INNOVATIVE TEACHING SHOWCASE

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Innovative Teaching Showcase, designed to honor and share WWU faculty excellence and innovation.

Two instructors from Western Washington University (Kenn Apel) and the University of Nebraska at Omaha created a set of common readings for their students. The students met via the Internet four times during the quarter, sending each other live audio and video, and engaging in a collaborative discussion about their shared coursework.

This showcase features instructor Scott Brennan's Environmental Studies 101 course that was taught Fall Quarter, 1999. The environmental studies course was redesigned using multimedia and was presented in a large lecture hall in an electronic presentation format. Students were also able to access a specially designed website for course information, announcements, and to discuss course issues via an electronic discussion board.

Professor Shaw Gynan's lecture on ebonics, inspired by a controversial radio program, stimulated discussion and critical thought in a sociolinguistics course. Various media, cartoons, audio, and images enhanced the lecture.

The Election Project was piloted in the Fall of 1998 in Professor Ken Hoover's Political Science 101 course. Students in the Election Project worked in teams assigned to one of four election-related concepts. Each team took information generated by their written reports and created a website. They streamed video election updates and team reports live on the Internet on Election Day.

"Authentic learning may be more important than ever in a rapidly changing world, where the half-life of information is short and individuals can expect to progress through multiple careers�expert thinking and complex communication will differentiate those with career-transcending skills from those who have little opportunity for advancement."